Kyle Busch dominates first stage of the Brickyard 400

Despite a delay due to rain, Busch led 50 laps en route sixth stage win of 2017.

The No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota held had a .544-second advantage over Martin Truex Jr. at the end of the segment. Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. rounded out the top 10.

By Lap 5, Busch had extended his lead over Harvick by two-seconds with Truex Jr. catching the No. 4 Ford. Just after Truex passed Harvick on Lap 8, Corey LaJoie hit the wall in Turn 3 to ignite the first caution.

Clint Bowyer was the first car to come down pit road for service then lined up 24th. Kyle Larson Daniel Suarez, Paul Menard, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chris Buescher, Aric Almirola, Ty Dillon, Michael McDowell, Austin Dillon and Landon Cassill followed.

Before the race returned to green, NASCAR waved the red flag on Lap 13 after 14 minutes, 31 seconds, for severe weather in the area. Kyle Busch remained at the point followed by Truex, Harvick, Jamie McMurray, Ryan Blaney, Ryan Newman, Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, Erik Jones Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, Kasey Kahne, Brad Keselowski and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Jimmie Johnson, who started at the back of the field.

NASCAR lifted the red flag and displayed the yellow flag following a one hour, 47 minute-delay. The Competition Caution was moved from Lap 20 to Lap 30. The race went green on Lap 18. Busch held the point followed by Truex, McMurray, Blaney and Harvick after the first lap. Kurt Busch, Newman, Jones, Hamlin and Kenseth rounded out the top 10.

On fresh tires, Earnhardt came from 21st to 15 on the first two laps. Larson, who also took four tires, came from 22nd to 13th after three laps.

On Lap 22, Busch’s lead was 1.822-seconds. Chase Elliott reported he was down a cylinder and dropped to 22nd, then 30th on Lap 23 and to 34th on Lap 24.

By Lap 25, Busch held a 2.3-second advantage over Truex. McMurray, Blaney, Harvick, Kenseth, Kurt Busch, Jones, Larson and Logano rounded out the top 10. Larson passed Kurt Busch for on Lap 28. Earnhardt passed Kurt Busch for 10th just before the competition caution.

Busch’s lead was 2.5-seconds by Lap 30. Truex, McMurray, Blaney, Harvick, Kenseth, Jones, Larson, Logano, Earnhardt, Kurt Busch, Bowyer, Newman, Hamlin and Johnson rounded out the top 15.

On Lap 32, the leaders pitted. Busch held onto the lead off of pit road followed by Truex, Blaney, Kenseth, Logano, McMurray, Harvick, Larson, Earnhardt, Kurt Busch, Johnson, Bowyer, Jones, Kahne, Stenhouse, Bayne, Suarez, Menard, Buescher and Ty Dillon.

The No. 24 team lifted the hood on Elliott’s car and went to work diagnosing the problem. Elliott dropped the 39th, one lap down. Hamlin returned to pit road for repairs after contact with Newman. Hamlin restarted 37th.

After the first lap, Busch extended his lead to .576-seconds over Truex on Lap 35. Blaney, Logano and Harvick completed the top five. Harvick passed Logano for fourth on the next lap. McMurray ran sixth followed by Kenseth, Larson, Johnson and Earnhardt. After 37 laps, Bowyer passed his teammate Busch for 11th. Jones ran 13th, Stenhouse 14th and Kahne 15th.

Forty laps into the race, Busch and Truex checked out to a 2.5-second lead over third-place Blaney. Harvick, Logano, Kenseth, McMurray, Larson, Johnson and Earnhardt held onto the top 10.

On Lap 44, Elliott’s car began smoking and he retired to the garage. He was 39th, two laps down when his engine failed.